Malta's Ancient Hypogeum Just Reopened to the Public

First things first: If you can't find Malta on a map and don't know what a hypogeum is, don't fret. Malta's a nation made up of three islands in the southern Mediterranean, and a hypogeum is an underground, prehistoric cemetery. All of that matters today because one of the world's "most extraordinary archeological sites" (a hypogeum) just reopened to the public in the tiny European nation.

Dating back to 4000 B.C., the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum was used for nearly 1,500 years as a subterranean burial chamber. As Smithsonian notes, the "underground network of alcoves and corridors carved into soft Globigerina limestone" is one of Europe's only known Neolithic (between the Paleolithic and Bronze Age) necropolises, a star among the wealth of above-ground ancient structures throughout Malta. Scientists estimate more than 6,000 people were buried at the site, set in three levels, with the walls and ceilings in some places painted red ochre, a natural Earth element, according to the Times of Malta. In one section,"niches in the walls create amplified and echoing acoustic effects," according to Smithsonian, showing a high level of sophistication for pre-Bronze Age construction.

In June 2016, the Hypogeum closed for $1.2 million in renovations, including the installation of a new environmental management system, studies to assess the site's condition, and replacement of water mains above the site to help maintain the paintings on the Hypogeum's inner façade. A similar environmental control was installed in the 1990s, and visitors were limited to 80 people per day, as the mere presence of people leaves behind oily fingerprints and increased CO2 levels that can erode the delicate environment over time.

The updated technology hopes to keep the Hypogeum intact for generations to come, along with providing greater insights into temples throughout the Maltese archipelago. Grant funding from Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway made the updates possible, but one key fact remains: Tickets go fast, and still only 80 people can enter per day. Entrance costs $39 (€35) for adults, $17 (€15) for children, $22 (€20) for seniors and students, and $44 (€40) for last-minute tickets—you might need to book weeks or months in advance to make sure you can get in.

But even if you can't, a new virtual tour in the visitor's center can recreate some of the experience—no tomb spelunking required.

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